Call-box.



No. 883,447. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. H. s. BULLOCK, JR. CALL BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED D] :10.15, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

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I r 2Q ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. BULLOCK, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH I COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CALL-BOX.

No. 88l3,447.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. BULiocx,'

Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the borough of Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Call-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap rtains to make and use the same.

invention relates to improvements in call hoxes or transmitters such as are used in combined services, as for exam 1e combined Watchman signal and fire 3. arm systems, and which are required 'to give two classes of signals. The patents to John C. Barclay, Nos. 761,026 dated May 24, 1904, and 777,327, dated December 13, 1904, describe boxes or transmitters of this class.

Such boxes or transmitters usually comprise means for sending in a station signal (usually the number of the box) and, to distinguis one class of signals from the other, means for sending in an additional distinc tive signal. In a combined watchman and alarm system, for example, the distinction between the character of signals transmitted is usually made by sendin in only the num-. ber of the box for the watc ans signal, and by sendin same in only once or a very small number 0% times, each time. the box is operated for a watchmans signal; and, for the alarm signal, by sendin in both the box number and a distinctive orse or other code letter or desi nation, and causing the box number and 511's distinguishing character to be repeated a number of times.

The box number or station signal, and the said distinctive signal or Morse code letter, have customarily been transmitted by the same transmittin mechanism, and in fact by the same brea wheels and pens or contact brushes; and to prevent the said distinctive signal or Morse code letter from being sent in While the watchmans signal is being transmitted, contact means have been provlded for shunting the break wheels and pens during the time the portions of the reak wheels containing said distinctive si nal are passing the pens. w eels, the distinctive signal has followed the box number. Also for sending in the Watchmans signal the boxes have been signal.

On the break operated .by a key. It has been found in some cases that the watchman, in withdrawing his key carelessly before the contact mechanism has come to rest, may turn his key backward somewhat, and thus open the shunt, cutting out the distinctive signal,

thereby permitting such distinctive signal to come m; it bein possible in such case to mistake the watdhmans signal for an alarm In the call box illustrated in the accompanying drawings I have provided means whereby possibility of false transmission of the distinctive si nal is avoided. I have further substitute a mechanical cutout for. the electric cutout to prevent the distinctive signal being sent in during the transmission of the watchmans signal. I have also so constructed the box that the mechanism thereof (clock train and contact mechanism) is very accessible and is readily removable from the box itself without breaking connections and I have further provided an improved junction-box construction within the signal box and have made other improvements all as more fully hereinafter stated. The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of call box embodying my invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a front view of box open, the door of the box having been removed. Fig. 2'shows' a transverse horizontal section of the box including the door, the latter closed, and shows particularly the junction box, and the latch for holding the door closed until a glass or like breakin piece in said door is broken, the section being taken on a line 22 of Fig. 1. Fi 3 shows a transverse vertical section of t e box taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a detail elevation of the contact mechanism lookin from the left of Fig. 3, the main break w eel being partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the contact mechanism for giving the distinctive or alarm signal. Fig. 5 is a detail view showin artl in elevation and partly g E y in section on t e line 5-5 of Fig. 3, how the operating handle is connected to the windin staff of the clock train. Fig. 6 is a deta front view of a portion of the door showing the glass breaking piece and the key hole. Fig. 7 shows a detall side'view of the main line-circuit break-wheel and pens. Fi 8 is a similar'view of the break-wheel an pens for transmitting the distinctive signal, the

cutout shunt contact device, and associated parts. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the circuit connections.

In said drawings numeral 6 designates the box casing, 7 the door thereof, 8 and 9 u per and lower horizontal partitions in said ox, and 10 and 11 tubes through which wires may be led into and out of the box. The clock train, comprising the contact mechanism, is mounted upon the back of a plate 12, secured to these cross partitions 8 and 9 said plate 12 being prov1ded with a recessed 'unction box 13, the bottom of which is a lock 14 of insulating;material, carrying a plurality of terminal screws 15, 16, 17 and 18. This terminal box is normally closed by a removable plate 19. At the two ends of the terminal box are 0 enings 20 and 21 leading respectively to t e spaces 22 and 23 in the upper and lower arts of the main box -1, throu h which 0 enings 20 and 21, wires ed to and om t e terminals in the may be It will be observed that junction box.

chambers 22 and 23 provide room for the 25coiling up of a considerable amount of slack in the wires, so that when desired, the plate 12 with all parts thereon, may be taken out of the box 1 and turned around and inspected and even repaired to a considerable extent, without breaking connections or straining the wires; and at the same time the partitions 8 and 9 make it im ossible that any portion of the slack Wire s all get into the mechanism so as to interfere with its 0 eration, after said plate 12 and the parts t ereon have been returned to place. This is in practice a very important point, as will be a preciated readily.

Tfie clock train comprises the usual main winding staff 24, said stafi having mounted upon it the usual spiral clock spring 25 and a gear wheel 26, the latter being driven'from the sta through a ratchet and pawl, 27 and 28, in the ordinary manner. In the door 7 there is a key hole 29 through which a key may be inserted to operate the stafi 24. Upon staff 24 there, is also mounted a cam 30 (Fig. 4) arranged to operate a shunt contact device 31 and also to operate a mechanical shunt device 32 for cutting out the distinctive signal as above referred to. Gear 26 drives, through pinion 33, the second staff 34 is a second break wheel 41 for giving the distinctive signal referred to; the contact devices 42 and 42 for this second break wheel being mounted upon the mechanical cutout lever 32 above mentioned. The third staff 40 drives, through gear 43 and pinion 44, the usual escapement 45 havin the usual esca ement anchor 46 and pendulum 47.

pon main spring winding staff 24 is a hand lever 48 for o crating the box. As

shown particularly in igs. 3 and 5 there is,

in front of the hub of said hand lever'48, a disk 49, mounted upon the same staff 24 and having a square projecting ortion 50 adapted to receive a key inserted through the key hole 29 in the cover. Hand lever 48 has a pin 51 adapted to be enga ed by shoulder 52 of part 49 so that when sai art 49 is rotated it will carry with it the hand lever and therefore will rotate the winding staff 24; but as will be seen from Fig. 5, hand lever 48-may be moved through a considerable ran e (corresponding to several repetitions of t ebox signal) before it engages the stop 53. A screw 54 carried by part 49 and working in a slot 55 limits the motion of disk 49 to such extent that when the disk 49 iso erated by a key, the box signal is sent in on y once or at the most, a limited number of times. When the hand lever 48 is depressed, however, the winding staff 24 is rotated through a much greater arc, as indicated in Fig. 5 by full-line and dotted-line representations of said lever. When the box is operatedby means of lever 48, therefore, the signal of the box is repeated many more times than when the box is operatedby a key engaging stem 50. The contact devices 31, 36, 37, 42, and 42 are all similar and com rise s ring contact pieces arranged to make an break contact with each other, such contact devices being mechanically operated by the cam 30, the break wheel 35, or the break wheel 41, as the case may be. Such mechanically operated contact devices are in many respects referable to and more reliable than contact brushes making contact with the break wheels or shunt cam 30, such as might be employed. Contact device 36 comprises a en 56 .and contact sprin 57, normally in contact but separated w en the teeth of break wheel 35 pass the end of 56. Contact device 37 comprises a-similar pen 58 and contact spring 59, normally out of contact placed in contact when the teeth of to binding post or screw 18 and thence to pens156:and 58of contact devices 36 and 37 line wire 60 (wire 60 continued). points 57 and 59 are connected to the con- .possib ethat the pose to bean alarm si aas,447

the otherconnected to binding post and thence to one spring of contact device 31, the other spring Contact tact springs of contact devices-42and 42", and contact 59 is also connected to terminal screw 16 and so to ground. The brushes of contact devices 42 and-42 are connected to terminalscrew 17 and so to line 60.

The operation ofthe call box is asfollows: To send in one. of the two classes of signals of which the box iscapable we will suppose it to be a watchmans signal, a key s in-' ,serted through the keyhole into engagement with the extension 50 of winding staff 24 and the key is turned as far as it can be turned and then withdrawn. This winds up the spring 25, and rotates the earn farenough to permit the-number of the box to be sent 1n a llmitednumber of times (once, wewill say) but does notrotate the cam 30 far enough to permit contact to be closed at 31, or to move cutout lever 32 far enough to bring its contact devices 42 and 42 into contact with break wheel 41. As soon as the key is released or withdrawn, break wheel 35 begins to rotate, operating the contact devices 35 and 37, and sending in the number of the box in the well-known manner. It will be noted that,the contact mechanism 41-42-42 not havin been brought into action, it is imlstinctiv'e alarm signal on wheel 41 shall be sent in when the box is operated bythe key and the'stafi 24 turned through the limited ran permitted by the pin 54 workin in the e -55, (Fig. 5). To send in the other signal, which we will su al, the cover of t e s opened and the ever 48 ulled down as far as it will go. This wmds up the spring 25 enough to send in the box number many more times than before, and also moves the cam 30 far enough to bring the contact devices 42 and 42 into'engagement with break-wheel41 and to "cause the ontact device 31 to close the shunt between terminals 15 and 17 shown in Fig. 9, thereb cutting out all boxes in circuit, or beyon As soon as the hand-lever is released the break wheels 35 and 41 be in to rotate. The teeth and blank s aces 0 these two wheels are so placed relatively that the contact devices 3637, and 42,42. are operated alternately, thus sending in the number of the box and the character on wheel 41 alternatel it being immaterial, in a broad sense,

moved through such an are that the number of the box and the distinctive signal will be repeated a lar number of times, when the alarm is sent'm.

of which is connected 'to:

the lug It will be noted that the cutout lever 32 carrying the contact device 42.42 has lugs 62 embracing a cam-projection 63 of cam 30, so that said cam 30 moves the cutout lever 32 positively in both-directions; also, as lug 63 moves out of the recess between In S 62 when the handle 48 is operated as descrlbed, its face, engaging the end of one lug 62, prevents the arm 32 from rotating so as to disenga e contact device 42-42 from break whee 41 until, in the last round of the signal, 63 enters the space between lugs 62 and t en moves the lever 32 away from wheel 41; the construction being similar to the well-known Geneva sto motion.

'This box gives the same signa s precisely,

whether working on complete metallic cir- 16; the two disks of break-wheel 35, being exactly alike, that for the open-circuit contact 37 set slightly in advance of that for the closed circuit contact 36, so that the completionofcontact through 37 and the breaking of contact at 36 shall be practically simultaneous. 1 In the break wheel 41, both disks are likewise exactly alike, but the disk which coacts with contact device 42, 11. e., the Mc- Culloug disk, is so set that its pen does not enga e the teeth init until the pen of contact evice 42 has ceased to make contact with the teeth of its corresponding disk; By placing the box number wheel 35 on the second staff, instead of upon the third staff, as has been customary in call boxes of the same general type heretofore, I obtain more power for the operation of this wheel and its contact devices, and owing to the greater spring-pressure rendered possible in contact device 36, (the main-line contact through which other boxes further. on; in the circuit must operate) insure a better circuit for the boxes to operate through.

One feature of my invention relates to the latch for holdin the door 7 closed except when it is desire to send in an alarnr It is customar in boxes of this sort to have the door hel closed by a latch comprising a breaking piece, such'as a piece of glasp, which must be brokenbefore the door can be opened.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, 64 designates a glass plate, set within arecess in the door 7, and resting upon three lugs, 65, 66 and 67, seen through the 'glass, inFig. 6. The glass is held in place by a thin metal frame'68 held in placeby screws, as indicated. On the under side of the door is a bracket 69,;having bearings for a sliding, spring-pressed bolt 70, normally engaging a lug 71 secured to plate 1.2 and so holding the door closed. The spring 72 of said Holt tends to retract it from said lug 71, this'being prevented normally by theengagement of a lug 73 of said boltwith the edge of the glass 64. But when the glass is broken, the spring 72 automatically re-' tractsbolt 70, thus permitting the door to open.

It is exceedingly important, in devices of this sort, that the glass shall be held in such manner that it may be broken readily, and that when broken no splinter shall remain in such position as to prevent unlocking of the door. In this device, the three-point support of the glass makes it very easy to break the glass, and at the same time the glass is quite free under the frame 68, so that the ortion of the glass adjacent to the lugs 73, if not broken with the rest, will be ushed back in stantly by the sprin 72 andllug 73. It will be noted that the ug 73 presses edgewise against the glass; the glass acting, therefore,

in the direction of its greatest strength, to resist the action of the spring 72, until said glass is broken.

. What I claim is:

1. A signal transmitter comprising in combination transmitting means for transmitting successively and in alternation two different signals, mechanism arranged to operate said transmitting means a greater or less number of times at will, and a mechanical cutout preventing the transmission of one of said signals, but not the other, during a selected period of the operation of said transmitting means. I

2. A signal transmitter comprising in combination transmitting means for transmitting successively and in alternation two different signals, mechanism arranged to operate said transmitting means a greater or less number of times at will, and a mechanical cutout preventing the o eration of means for-transmitting one of sai signals during a selected period of the operation of the transmitter.

3. A signal transmitter comprising in combination twotransmitting devices and operating mechanism arranged to cause same to operate successively and in alternation a greater or less number of times at will, and a mechanical cutout throwing one of saidv transmitting devices out of operation during a selected period of the operation of the transmitter.

4. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices and operating mechanism arranged to cause same to operate successively and in alternation a greater or less number of times at will, and a mechanical cutout for one of said transmitting devices throwing same out of operation during the last round of signals.

5. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices and operating mechanism arranged to cause same to operate successively and in alternation a greater or less number of times at will, and a mechanical cutout having mounted thereon a member of one of said transmitting devices and operated by said operatmechanism therefor, and mec 'bers of the said transmitting devices,

ing mechanism to hold said member out of operative position during a selected period of the operation of the transmitter.

6. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices, each comprising a break-wheel and pen operating mechanism arranged to cause same to operate successively and in alternation a greater or less number of timesat will, and mechanical cutout means comprising a movable member having mounted upon it one of the members of one of said transmitting devices, and operated by said mechanism to hold such transmitting member out of operative position.

7. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices each comprising a break-wheel and pen, operating anical cutout means comprising a member having mounted upon it one of the members of one of said transmitting devices, and operated by said mechanism to hold said transmitting member out of operative position.

8. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices, each comprising a break-wheel and pen, a clocktrain for operating said transmitting devices, and mechanical cutout means comprising a member having mounted upon it one of the members of one of said transmitting devices, and operated by said clock-train to at times hold said transmitting member out of operative position.

9. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices, each comprising a break-wheel and pen, a clocktrain for operating said transmitting devices, comprising a cutout-operating cam, and mechanical cutout means comprising a member having mounted upon it one of the members of one of the said transmitting devices, said cutout member operated positively by said cam in both directions.

10. A signal transmitter comprising in combination two transmitting devices, each comprising a break-wheel and pen, a clocktrain for operating said transmitting devices comprising a cutout-operating cam, and mechanical cutout means comprising an arm having mounted upon it one of the mem sai arm and cam comprising intermeshing' portions positively connecting them.

11. A signal transmitter comprising in combination a case, a removable mechanismplate secured thereto, transmitting mechanism upon said plate, and a closed terminalbox mounted upon said plate and removable therewith and containing contact terminals for said transmitting mechanism.

12. A signal transmitter comprising in combination a case, provided with a mechanism plate having a recess forming a terminalbox, transmitting mechanism upon said plate, insulating material at the bottom of said terminal-box recess, and terminals for said transmitting mechanism upon said insulatin materia 13. combination a case provided with transverse partitions forming chambers for containing circuit leads and an intermediate mechanismchamber and provided also with a mechanism-plate covering said chamber, and transmitting mechanism upon said. plate and circuit leads therefor passing through said leadchambers.

14. A signal transmitter comprising in combination a case provided with transverse partitions forming chambers for containing circuit leads and an intermediate mechanism chamber and provided also with a mechanism-plate covering said chamber, transmitting mechanism upon said plate, and a ter-.

minal box between said partitions, having terminals for said mechanism, said partitions having openings for the passage of circuit leads to said terminal box.

15. A signal transmitter comprising in combination a case provided with transverse partitions forming chambers for containing circuit leads and an intermediate mechanism chamber, a removable mechanism-plate over said chamber, transmittin mechanism upon said plate, and a terminal block of insulating material on'said plate provided with terminals for said mechamsm.

16. A signal transmitter comprising in 'signal transmitter comprising in combination a case, a door therefor having a recess to receive a breaking-piece, latching mechanism for said door corn rising a movable locking member, and a reakmgiece therefor in said recess, said latching mec anism having a rojection normally engaged and held in the ocked position by said breaking-piece. v

17 A signal transmitter com rising in combination a case, a door there or having a recess to receive a breaking-piece, latching mechanism for said door comprising. a bolt and a spring tending to retract same from looking position, and a breaking-piece in said recess, said bolt having a projectlon normally enga ed and held in the locked position by said reakingiece.

18. A signa transmitter comprising in combination a case, a door therefor having a recess to receive a breaking piece, latching mechanism for said door com rising a member adapted to be engaged and held in locked positionb a breaking piece in lace in said recess, an abreakingpieceinsuc recess,said

recess havin three-point supporting means for said brea 'ng piece.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, HENRY s. BULLOCK, JR.

Witnesses: .Roena H. LYON,

H. M. MARBLE. 

